How to dual- boot Windows 8 and Windows 7. Windows 8 is coming.
Why disable Download Windows 8.1 Preview Boot Screen for Windows XP and Windows 7. Most of us know that Microsoft loves using "Betta fish" images in testing versions of Windows OS. Windows Boot Genius. Laptop won't boot with blue/black screen of death? Windows crashed and can't access your data? Computer keeps restarting or freezes after login? A few weeks ago, we published a detailed tutorial on how to dual boot Windows 8 and Windows 7. Just like Vista and Windows 7 users, Windows XP users may also like to.
- Upgrading to a news OS can be detrimental. Here's our how to guide to dual booting Windows by separating your hard drive into two distinct partitions.
- Step1: The first thing we need to do is create a new partition on the Windows 7 machine. Luckily we can do it without any 3rd party software.
Could the new OS make your computing life any better? Is the new interface a boon, or more of a boondoggle?
You can install the Windows 8 Release Preview alongside Windows 7 and take it for a full test- drive. It's simply a matter of setting up a dual- boot configuration. This is a pretty safe operation, but you never know.
Partition. The first step is to create a partition on your hard drive, a chunk of space that's reserved exclusively for Windows 8. You'll need at least 1. GB, or 2. 0GB if you're loading Windows 8 6. I recommend giving the OS plenty of breathing room: at least 3. GB. Get Windows 8. Next, you'll need to download the Windows 8 Release Preview. It's available in 3.
Most modern PCs can run the latter just fine, so that's what I recommend unless your system is more than 3- 4 years old. Whatever its age, be sure to check Microsoft system's requirements. Likewise, make note of the product key: TK8. TP- 9. JN6. P- 7.
X7. WW- RFFTV- B7. QPF. I described this process last year in . Install Windows 8. Once you've loaded the Windows 8 ISO on your flash drive drive, boot to that drive. Not every PC will boot from a flash drive by default.).
This is the only really critical part of the process. After accepting the installer's software license, be sure to choose Custom, not Upgrade. Next you'll see a list of available partitions; click Drive options (advanced), then select the unallocated space you created earlier. By default, it should display the full amount of the selected partition, in which case go ahead and click Apply.
This will take about 2. Windows 8 and run you through the usual initial- setup stuff. It did on my system.). From now on, when you boot your PC you'll see a start- up menu that gives you a choice between Windows 7 and Windows 8 - - and it'll proceed with booting the latter by default. If you want Windows 7 to remain the go- to operating system, click Change defaults or choose other options while this menu is visible, then click Choose the default operating system.
Keep in mind that this Release Preview will expire on January 1. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld. PC World Community Forums. Sign up to have the Hassle- Free PC newsletter e- mailed to you each week. To comment on this article and other PCWorld content, visit our Facebook page or our Twitter feed.